Full Breakdown
Americans Oppose Local AI Data Centers, Gallup Poll Shows
5/13/2026, 8:44:10 PM
Public Opposition
A Gallup survey conducted March 2-18 2026 reports that 71 percent of U.S. adults would oppose an artificial-intelligence data center built near their home, and 48 percent describe that opposition as “strong.” Only 7 percent say they are strongly in favor. Opposition exceeds that for local nuclear power plants, where 53 percent oppose construction.
Context and Growth of AI Facilities
AI data centers house computers that power models for universities, businesses and tech firms. They need large land, substantial electricity and water for cooling. U.S. sites more than doubled from 2018-2021; Virginia leads, followed by Texas and California, and the ten states with the most sites hold about 60 percent of capacity. Global AI-focused data-center spending is projected to reach $7 trillion by 2030.
Key Statistics
- Overall: 71 % oppose; 48 % strongly oppose; 7 % strongly favor.
- Demographics: 56 % of Democrats vs. 39 % of Republicans strongly oppose; women 55 % vs. men 43 %.
- Region: Strong opposition peaks in Midwest (76 %) and South (75 %); West lower at 63 %.
- Concerns: 46 % worry a great deal, 24 % a fair amount; 18 % each cite water and electricity use; 16 % mention pollution; 20 % cite higher utility bills or cost-of-living impacts.
Criticism and Opposition
Opponents cite heavy water and electricity use, noise and air emissions, and added traffic and population density. They warn higher utility costs and public funding could burden households.
Political Implications
The Gallup results indicate a social hurdle for AI expansion, likely spurring legal challenges and influencing zoning. Analysts expect AI infrastructure to become a 2026 election issue, making support for new centers politically risky. Companies may focus builds in states with lower public resistance.
Verbatim Quotes
- “— Seven in 10 Americans oppose constructing data centers for artificial intelligence in their local area, including nearly half, 48%, who are strongly opposed.” — Gallup poll summary
- “Opposition is so intense, the poll found, that more Americans would rather live near a nuclear power plant than a data center, which are designed to fuel demand for artificial intelligence.” — Gallup analysis
- “Half of opponents mention data centers’ excessive use of resources, including 18% each mentioning their use of water and energy.” — Gallup findings
- “Virginia, commonly been referred to as “the data center capital of the world,” currently has the largest number of data centers, followed by Texas and California, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI).” — World Resources Institute data
Outlook
The poll suggests AI infrastructure will be a focal point of the 2026 election, likely prompting legal challenges and encouraging firms to explore lower-impact sites or alternative cooling. Ongoing public-opinion tracking will gauge whether resistance eases as communities learn about AI benefits.
